Boy was I wrong. Really wrong.

We had our chances, but somehow let the game get away from us - again.

Based on the talent on the field, this should have been a much more competitive game.

My post-game analysis breaks down the Buckeyes’ performance.

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Check out my pre-game analysis in a piece I did for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

This Ohio State team is much better than most people at ESPN realize.

The bottom line: OSU 45 LSU 28.

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It’s rare that good coaches leave their jobs too early. More often than not they tend to stay just long enough to discover mediocrity and derision. If Saturday’s game against Ohio State was, in fact, Lloyd Carr’s last after 13 years as the head football coach at Michigan, he will leave a mixed legacy and a challenge for his successor to restore the program to its heyday.

Despite awful post-season performances and a 1-6 record against Jim Tressel, Carr was familiar to and respected by the purists who genuinely love the game. He was truly among the last of the old guard, the last of the coaches who can trace their professional lineage directly to the golden age of college football.

No one can argue with the job he did this year to bring his team back from a humiliating loss against Appalachian State and a series of injuries to key personnel. But somewhere between desire and ability, tradition and modernity, the Wolverines seemed to lose their way over the past several seasons. And as a consequence, the program isn’t among the nation’s elite anymore.

Many Ohio State fans will celebrate Michigan’s decline, but they are being shortsighted. A strong UM program is good for Ohio State, good for the Big Ten and good for college football. Just as Ali needed Frazier, Ohio State needs a confident and capable Michigan to bring out the best in both. A competitive rivalry will help the Big Ten reestablish credibility around the country. And a credible Big Ten will, in turn, restore balance to national championship picture.

The process of conference regeneration began with Jim Tressel. It continued with Ron Zook and Mark D’Antonio. Now there’s Michigan and, next, it’s Penn State. This regeneration will lead to a new, exciting era in Big Ten football. And if, as expected, Michigan hires Les Miles, it will set the stage for another Ten-Year War between the Buckeyes and Wolverines. If that happens, get ready for a renewed intensity and riveting new plot line in The Rivalry, complete with interesting characters, traitors, intrigue, espionage and really, really good football.

My thoughts on the Michigan game:

• The Opponent – C+. Even accounting for injuries to the star players, Michigan’s performance was not only underwhelming but, dare I say it, also a little soft. That’s probably the worst thing you can say about a Midwestern football team. And I don’t just mean at the line of scrimmage. The receivers dropped several balls in part because of bad technique in cold, wet weather. But I also saw them taking a peek at the defenders instead of focusing on the ball. That’s more of a manhood issue than one of poor technique. As for coaching, I’m not sure I understand why Carr didn’t sit Henne in the 4th quarter, as he was clearly in pain and unable to throw the ball effectively. They could’ve benefited from Mallett’s strong arm and youthful enthusiasm when they needed two scores.
• The Defense – A. If only Michigan ran the ball as well as Mike Hart ran his mouth, the Wolverine offense might have been more productive. As it was, the Buckeyes completely stuffed the run game by dominating the line of scrimmage. Hart looked confused and frustrated for the entire game, except for when he taunted Chekwa after a good block. Then he just looked silly. The inclement weather played a part in grounding Henne’s passing attack. But Vernan Gholston and the defensive line were the main reason the Wolverines couldn’t get vertical. I know we have problems against the spread, but I still think this is the best defense in the country.
• The Offense – B. Blame it on the weather or on an Illinois hangover, but Boeckman never looked confident or comfortable against Michigan. The passing game sputtered in the first half and disappeared in the second. Fortunately, Barton, Boone and Beanie stepped up and made plays when the game was on the line, displaying the talent and toughness to take complete control. And let’s not forget Dionte Johnson. His devastating lead blocks cleared the way for Beanie’s 222 yards. Pete Johnson (no relation) must’ve been smiling as he watched the Buckeyes put together a throwback offensive effort. Pepper Johnson (very much a relation) was probably pretty pleased as well.
• The Special Teams – C. I find myself repeating pretty much the same thing I wrote last week: The special teams didn’t make any big mistakes, but neither did they do much to help win the game. In particular, punter A.J. Trepasso had several chances to pin Michigan deep inside their own territory. Instead, he kept them in the game by giving them good field position. I think Skladany needs to conduct a tutorial on big-game punting.
• My Favorite Play. There are several to choose from this week, but I’ll go with Vernon Gholston’s sack against Jake Long. As sacks go, it wasn’t terribly exciting – no bone jarring hit or resulting slobber on the camera lens. But if you like the nuance of the game, it was a doozy. After mixing techniques against Long all day, he went with a picture-perfect speed rush to the outside with an arm-under move. Long got caught flat-footed and gave up his first sack of the year.
• Game Ball. We’re going to have to split it in two this week: Vernon Gholston and Beanie Wells.

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The following is an excerpt from the book Game of My Life Ohio State: Memorable Stories of Buckeye Football. An autographed copy of the book is available from our online store.

Continued from Part 1

Michigan came out strong in the third quarter and dominated the statistics. With Byars slowed by his sore ankle and a Michigan defense that had adapted to our game plan, we struggled on offense. Meanwhile, their offense had finally found a rhythm with a sophomore quarterback who started to look more poised. They held the ball for most of the quarter and kicked another field goal to make the score 7-6. A series later, their usually accurate kicker missed a field goal that would’ve given them the lead. Despite the miss, we could sense that they would eventually put more points on the board unless we started to pick up first downs.

The score was still 7-6 as the game moved into the fourth quarter. We finally got our tight end, Ed Taggart, involved in the offense and started to move the ball a little. But mid-way through the quarter, we found ourselves in yet another third and long situation on our own 43-yard line. If we couldn’t convert, one more punt would give Michigan the ball and another chance at taking the lead. This deep into the game, one score could determine the final outcome.

As I lined up wide left for the 3rd and 12 play, I read the defensive secondary. They were in cover 3, with the corners and safety playing thirds of the field. Tomczak called my number on an in route, which meant that I was supposed to run about 17 yards downfield before cutting to the inside across the field. Taggart lined up left and ran a straight clearing route down the center of the field. His job was to run the safety deep so I’d have room to come in behind him. As the ball was snapped I noticed that one of their linebackers decided to run with Taggart downfield. I knew immediately that this would cause a problem because the linebacker would clutter up the middle of the field, which was exactly where I wanted to go. Linebackers wouldn’t normally drop so deep on this route, so when I started to make my break to the inside Tomczak and I both realized that we had to contend with an extra body.

As I came out of my break, I saw the linebacker to my right and a little in front of me. I had to decide whether to run through the route or to stop short of where he was positioned. I chose to run through the route, thinking I’d run past the congestion and hoping Tomczak would make the same read. He didn’t. Instead he threw the ball where I would’ve been if I’d stopped short. I remember thinking momentarily that he and I would have to have one of those get-on-the-same-page quarterback – receiver chats after the play. Then I just reacted. The tough part was changing direction against my momentum. As the ball sailed past the linebacker’s outstretched right arm, I knew I had to extend up and to the outside as far as I could go if I were going to have a chance of getting a hand on it. Luckily, I was able to jump backwards far enough to get both hands up and make a solid grab at the ball. I came down and ensured that I had possession before springing up and tossing the ball behind me. “First down,” I thought. “Move the chains.”

I’m not an expert on the subject, but I’d guess that part of creating a memorable moment is not realizing at the time you’re creating one. Ordinary often becomes remarkable, not by intent, but by circumstance and perception. The play would later be seen as pivotal in the outcome of the game. I’ve made better catches, but not on that stage and not in that moment and not in that context. Had we not scored on that possession, the catch would have been entirely forgettable, tucked away quietly into the big book of OSU football statistics as just another 17-yard reception. As it turned out, because I caught the ball we kept a drive alive and the momentum seemed to change. We scored a few plays later, and then again late in the quarter before running out the clock. We won the game 21-6, locking up the Big Ten championship and securing a birth in the 1985 Rose Bowl. As a result of the catch, I was named the Chevrolet Most Valuable Player of the game. Of the Michigan game.

And to this day, to my constant amazement, total strangers approach me during Michigan week to congratulate me for the catch. No one ever seems to remember the fumble. Perhaps they’re just being polite, but I suspect they’ve genuinely forgotten. If so, Emerson might be right and we are all entitled to be remembered for our diving 3rd and 12 catches instead of our fumbled punts. I don’t think it’s that simple, but it’d be nice if life really worked that way. If they do remember the fumble, I’m curious as to why no one has ever asked me to explain my uneven performance that day.

My wife, who’s not much of a football fan, thinks the whole thing is oddly amusing, especially the occasional autograph requests and ESPN Classics rebroadcasts. My kids think it’s cool (for now). I’m not sure what to think anymore. When I was younger and cursed with an overactive introspection gland, I might have been tempted to explain that day with a profound and complex redemption theme that resulted from the metaphysical juxtaposition of success and failure. But I’m older now.

So, what then? How do I explain my performance? Could it be just what Earle, and Woody before him, taught all along? That football’s about getting back up after you’ve been tackled. That it’s not about success or failure, but both at the same time. And the question isn’t whether either is permanent, but whether you choose to get up again, without fear or recrimination, after you’ve failed. Ad infinitum.

It’s probably something like that. Although, if I asked them back then, I’m sure Earle and Woody would’ve found an even simpler and better explanation - one that somehow included an obsession with beating Michigan.

I’d love to hear that one.

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The following is an excerpt from the book Game of My Life Ohio State: Memorable Stories of Buckeye Football. An autographed copy of the book is available from our online store.

“Every man is entitled to be valued by his best moment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The great thing about football is that when you get knocked down, you get up and go again.” – Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce

Throughout the history of the Ohio State – Michigan rivalry, educated and civilized commentators on both sides have often waxed poetic about the deep, enduring respect and admiration they had for each other’s program. For me, not so much. Call me a cad for saying so, but I’ve really never cared much for anything that’s come out of Michigan. Despite nearly committing to Bo Schembechler as a 17 year-old recruit, I’m pretty certain I’ve never liked Michigan. Even growing up in the Wolverine-friendly Cleveland area, I knew I didn’t like Michigan before I watched my first college football game. In fact, looking back, I can’t remember ever not feeling anything but contempt for Michigan, including their players, their school, their fans and their song. Especially their song.

Against this background, it should come as no surprise that my most memorable game involved Michigan. It was 1984. Reagan had just been re-elected in a landslide. Apple had revolutionized personal computing with the introduction of the Macintosh. Madonna had made a significant contribution to the end of Western civilization with her release of Like a Virgin. And I was a twenty-year-old, Junior flanker on the Ohio State football team. In spite of incredible talent on both sides of the ball, including legends such as Keith Byars, Cris Carter, Pepper Johnson and Jim Lachey, we’d managed to lose two games that year. One was a heartbreaker to Purdue and the other was a sleeper to Wisconsin. There were whispers in Columbus about another underperforming season followed by a Holiday Bowl consolation prize. But thanks to a one-point Iowa loss against Michigan State, we were still in contention for an outright Big Ten championship and a trip to Ohio State’s first Rose Bowl since 1979. All we had to do was beat a mediocre Michigan team that had sputtered to a disappointing 6-4 record coming into the game. As the cliché goes, though, records don’t matter in The Game. Michigan desperately wanted to salvage an off-year with a win.

On November 17 at Ohio Stadium, in the 81st meeting between Michigan and Ohio State, Earle Bruce, a great coach who never got the breaks or respect he deserved, put together a surprising game plan. Instead of sticking to tradition and playing the Michigan game conservatively, Earle came out throwing. The plan might not have measured up to that of a modern West Coast offense, but in a game usually characterized by cautious baseline play, waiting for your opponent to commit an unforced error, this was the equivalent of coming to the net. He also ran our quarterback, Mike Tomczak, on the option. We’d always had the option in our arsenal, but Tomczak had broken his leg in the Spring game eight months earlier. He’d run sparingly all season, and no one expected Earle to feature him so prominently on the ground.

We moved the ball effectively in the first quarter and scored on an efficient drive. I caught a couple of balls on curl routes, the second of which put us close to the end zone. Unfortunately, at the end of the first quarter Byars re-injured an ankle he’d sprained in the Wisconsin game a few weeks earlier, and we started to get sloppy on offense. But Michigan couldn’t capitalize. Its offense couldn’t seem to find an attack that could generate first downs. As the second half started to wind down, we found ourselves struggling, but with a decisive advantage in having points on the board. With twenty-two seconds to play in the half, Michigan lined up to punt the ball from their 44-yard line. We were ready to go into the locker room with a 7-0 lead and the psychological edge.

I was the punt returner. All I had to do was fair catch the ball and then we’d probably take a knee, run out the clock and get some Gatorade. And that’s when the idea hit me. They were expecting us to fair catch the ball, take a knee, run out the clock and get some Gatorade. I remember watching the Michigan punt team and thinking that if I could catch them sleeping and get by the first few guys, I just might be able to surprise them with a big return. Even though I hadn’t returned a punt for touchdown all year, I just needed a step or two and then it was off to the races. After all, I was faster than Cris Carter. What’s the worst that could happen? Fumble? I never fumbled.

So I didn’t raise my right arm to signal a fair catch. Instead I caught the ball on our own 12-yard line, stepped right, and evaded number 33 with a spin move to the inside. Then number 37 ran by and slapped at the ball with his right hand. And I fumbled. I fumbled. In the Michigan game. With the Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl on the line.

So naturally my only thought at that point–like any sane player in that situation–was to sneak back to the sideline without giving Earle a chance to grab me. That plan failed as well. Years later, I forget the exact phrase Earle used when he caught up to me, but I’m pretty sure I could figure it out without buying any vowels.

As I watched the Michigan offense take the field, I anxiously waited for the consequence of my stupidity to manifest itself in front of 90,000 fans in the stadium and millions at home. Then, as if in some bizarre delayed reaction, about two minutes too late, I found myself working through the other side of my boneheaded decision. “On the other hand,” I said to myself, “I’ve never returned a punt for a touchdown – not even in high school. My blockers might be sleeping, too. Cris Carter is slow. I’m really thirsty. And yes, I could fumble. In the Michigan game. With the Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl on the line.” Great. A little late for those golden nuggets.

Our defense came up big, and we escaped with just a field goal. Three points. That’s the best Michigan could do. Given the potential for a disastrous touchdown, I was a little relieved. At 7-3, we still held the lead. But everyone, even the guys selling hotdogs, could sense that the feel of the game had changed. As I crossed the field and walked towards the southeast corner of the stadium towards our locker room, I was uncomfortably aware of a small chorus of boos. I’d heard a few boos in the stadium before, normally from the guys who wanted to speak to Earle in the only language their alcohol would allow. But this was different. This time they were booing me. And then there was the heckler in the South stands who verbally assaulted me as I made my way past him. A single Michigan alum in an OSU section. Too old and well-dressed to be so drunk and obnoxious. Probably went to Grad School there as well, I thought.

In the locker room, the halftime routine was normal but subdued. We knew Michigan shouldn’t have been able to hang around at this point in the game. But there they were, just four points back. The assistant coaches went through our adjustments and Earle gathered us for a final word of encouragement before heading back out to the field. There were a few “forget about it’s” thrown in my direction, but no panic or alarm.

Obviously one can’t literally forget about a boneheaded play, but neither should one dwell on its implications. I’ve never been a dweller. Oh sure, I was embarrassed that it had happened. But despite a reporter’s later incredulity, it wasn’t like I had to search the deep recesses of my soul to find the strength to carry on. This was football, not a movie on the Lifetime channel. All I wanted was another shot at a big play in the second half. One play that could shift the game’s momentum. You can never undo a bad decision. But there are two halves in football, each offering opportunities for success. And, I suppose, failure. But who thinks about failure in the middle of a Michigan game?

Stay tuned for Part 2.

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In a topsy-turvy, upset-filled season, the notion of “supposed to” has been difficult to get a handle on. Look at any top-ranked program this year, and you’re bound to find at least one example of an unfulfilled “supposed to.” USC was supposed to dominate college football again. Michigan was supposed to beat Appalachian State. And Ohio State was supposed to struggle to replace several NFL-bound players. And then, a few weeks into the season, the South Florida Bulls were supposed to shake up the BCS , Lloyd Carr was supposed to step down as head coach, and Ohio State was supposed to run the table. Kind of makes your head hurt, doesn’t it?

I don’t follow such things, but I’m guessing that the guys who predict the outcomes of college football games for a living can’t wait for this season to be over. They might as well be throwing darts to pick these games.

Which brings us to the Illionois game. I’ve often said that Coach Tressel is the best active coach at wining the games he’s supposed to win. I’m still standing by that assessment. But with all the talent around the country, it only takes a bad day on defense and a few turnovers on offense to wind up on the wrong side of a supposed to. So I’m still trying to figure out how I should feel about losing a game we were supposed to win in a season in which we were supposed to lose, and not capitalizing on a National Championship opportunity we weren’t supposed to have in the first place.

It’s all very confusing. But it’s Michigan week. And we know that the winner of the greatest college rivalry will become the Big 10 champ and travel to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl.

Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?

My thoughts on the Illinois game:

• The Opponent – A. Coming in the game, Illinois knew it had to turn in a near-perfect performance to beat the Buckeyes—and they pretty much did. I had a chance to watch them play a few times this season, so I knew they had enough talent to win. But until now, I never saw them really put it all together in one game. Quarterback Juice Williams had the game of his life against the number 1 team in the country. And the Illini defense shut down a very good Ohio State offense. You can complain about the officiating, but let’s not kid ourselves. Ron Zook had his guys ready to play. And they deserved to win.
• The Defense – D+. The spread option gave the defense fits all day. It takes a very talented quarterback to run that style of offense, and Juice Williams delivered – not only with his feet but, surprisingly, with his arm as well. The Illini also found a way to run directly at the Buckeyes better than anyone else this season. Success in the running game then opened up the play-action pass. Sometimes you can chalk up this kind of day to a few mistakes here and there. In this case, though, the Illinois offense simply dominated OSU’s defense, particularly in the 4th quarter. They also executed the hurry up offense extremely well throughout the game, catching Ohio State with the wrong personnel on several occasions. I don’t know why more teams don’t do this.
• The Offense – C. Todd Boeckman finally looked human. After an amazing run with very few mistakes over the past 10 games, he threw three interceptions and was generally ineffective for most of the day. He didn’t get much help from the offensive line, as he felt pressure from the Illini front four all game long. With a few exceptions, the running game was also unproductive. This is not the kind of overall performance that will beat a good Michigan defense.
• The Special Teams – B-. The special teams didn’t make any mistakes, but neither did they do much to help win the game. In particular, punter A.J. Trepasso could’ve given Illinois tougher field position with a better effort. I’ve never been a fan of punters, primarily because I can’t understand how they can practice all week to put the ball inside the 10 yard line and, in real games, almost always scull the ball into the endzone. How hard can it be? Maybe Tupa can explain it to me one day.
• My Favorite Play. N/A.
• Game Ball. N/A

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One of the things that makes college football fun to watch is that you get a chance to see how young men respond to pressure and opportunity in a relatively unspoiled environment. They aren’t yet jaded by the business of sports, so their emotions are genuine. And sometimes their emotions allow them to play at a higher level than their talent would suggest.

Take my second favorite team, the Midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy. It’s not just that they beat Notre Dame for the first time since 1963, or that they did it in South Bend against so-called 5-star recruits. It’s that they played above their ability and persevered when they could’ve folded. That’s character. It doesn’t (and shouldn’t) matter that they beat Notre Dame in a down year. They got Notre Dame’s best effort. As they move on to careers as officers in the Navy and the Marine Corps, and probably for the rest of their lives, the Midshipmen will be able to talk about a win over the Golden Domers because they didn’t quit. I know they made a few my old ring-knocker shipmates from USS Sterett very proud.

Take the team up north as another example. I normally don’t like to say kind things about Michigan, but any fan of college football has to recognize the job that Lloyd Carr and his Wolverine team did this year. After arguably the most embarrassing loss in the history of the game, followed by a second consecutive loss to Oregon, the entire Michigan football program was under fire. Carr was close to being run out of town, and the season was written off as an unmitigated disaster. Fast forward to week 10 and things look a little different, don’t they? Carr is now being praised for holding his team together in the face of incredible adversity. And led by their talented seniors, the team has played with emotion and purpose. This weekend’s dramatic win over Michigan State was symbolic of their entire 2007 campaign. If they win their remaining two games, they probably won’t get to the national championship game. But they will be long remembered for their character.

After coming from behind to beat Wisconsin, Ohio State must also be designated, along with Navy and Michigan, as a leader in the character category this year. It wasn’t easy. As a result of the Florida debacle, no other program has been so insulted and maligned by pundits and coaches alike. Success against a soft schedule only provided additional material for the critics. So when Wisconsin played well for a few quarters, you could almost hear the snickers coming from the Southeastern part of the country: “Ohio State finally played a real team and see – they’re a mediocre team in a weak conference.” A lesser team would’ve developed an inferiority complex by now. But that’s not how Ohio State responded. Down by 7 points in the 3rd quarter and looking a little shaky, the Buckeyes put together a methodical comeback. By the end of the game, the Badgers were completely demoralized and Ohio State won going away.

And that’s the story of the season so far. Carrying the burden of redemption for the Florida game, the 2007 Buckeyes have surprised everyone except, probably, themselves. They still have 2 more games to go. But regardless of what happens from now, Buckeye fans should be proud of this team for its character.

My thoughts on the Wisconsin game:

• The Opponent – A-. As always, Wisconsin played Ohio State tough. I can’t figure it out, but as Jim Karsatos noted, the Badgers just seem to have Ohio State’s number. Unlike most teams the Buckeyes face, they don’t get intimidated by the Ohio State mystique. They just play like they’re supposed to win. And they usually have great athletes. Quarterback Tyler Donovan looked sharp for most of the game, and the defense shut down Ohio State’s Bruce Lee offense for two and a half quarters. Add a healthy P.J. Hill, and who knows how close this one could’ve been.
• The Defense – B-. It took a few perfect passes and great catches, but the Wisconsin offense exposed a few flaws in the Ohio State secondary. Thankfully, the defensive line was relentless, sacking Donovan 10 times. In the end the defense finally overwhelmed the Badger offense, but not before a few tense moments. Illinois and Michigan will watch plenty of game film, so look for them to try to replicate the big play success they saw with Wisconsin—especially the short drag route underneath that ended up into a big play. If the Buckeyes are going to have a shot at another National Championship game, Malcolm Jenkins is going to have to step up and play like an All-American in the final two games this season.
• The Offense – B. After an impressive first drive, the Buckeye offense stalled for two quarters. And for the first time this year, Boeckman looked a little frustrated as he faced a well-coached Badger defense. The Wisconsin secondary played an effective cover 2, taking away some of the passing firepower we’ve seen in previous games. Then in the 3rd quarter, the offensive line and Beanie Wells took control of the game. As the rest of the country is starting to find out, Beanie has all of the five skills required for a great running back: quickness, speed, power, vision, and patience. He also has the ability to shift gears and get to top speed faster than any big back I’ve seen since Bo Jackson.
• The Special Teams – B-. It didn’t turn out to be significant, but a blocked Pretorius field goal in the 3rd quarter appeared to be a critical mistake. In a tighter game, the mistake could’ve been disastrous. The rest of the special teams play was competent if not productive. Ray Small looked explosive on a long punt return that was called back (although he needs to watch out for the turf monster). And A.J. Trepasso finally got to break a sweat in a game with a solid punting effort.
• My Favorite Play. I had to watch it a few times to see exactly what happened, but Brian Robiskie’s 4th quarter, one-handed touchdown catch was a thing of beauty.
• Game Ball. Beanie Wells.

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We’ve been talking about the defense all season, so it’s nice to be able to focus on the offense for a change. No one, including me, thought we’d see this much productivity from an almost completely re-tooled unit. Didn’t we lose a Heisman trophy quarterback, 2 first-round receivers and the leading rusher from last season?

Nine games into the 2007 campaign, I’ve been trying to figure out how this year’s offense developed into one of the most efficient and potent attacks in the conference, and possibly the country. In part, I’m sure it’s because Todd Boeckman exceeded expectations and brought a level of maturity that no one could have predicted. And in part, it’s because Beanie Wells, Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline played enough last year so they wouldn’t roll into 2007 as untested rookies.

I suspect, though, that the real reason is something more fundamental. The players are doing their part, but it could be that the secret sauce is Coach Tressel’s dynamic philosophy. If you watch the games carefully, these guys aren’t playing in the same offense as last year. Come to think of it, last year’s 12-win offense differed significantly from the national championship offense of 2002.

So what’s going on? The answer is probably that Coach Tressel is able to customize his offensive schemes around both his personnel and his opponents on a recurring basis. It reminds me a little of the way Bruce Lee thought of martial arts. He didn’t really create a system as much as he offered a new open-source approach to a proprietary world. His Jeet Kun Do combat philosophy wasn’t a new system. Instead, as he often said, it was simply an amalgamation of things that worked. Far from being paralyzed by the prevailing dogma, he borrowed the best techniques from the best styles and disciplines. And he constantly adapted to changing circumstances. As water takes the shape of its container, Lee thought that a martial artist should respond flexibly to his environment.

That’s exactly what Tressel has done over the past several years. Rather than sacrificing at the alter of a particular offensive system, he’s borrowed the best aspects of the best systems and matched them to his personnel and opponents. A little spread here, a little I Formation there. Maybe some option if the situation called for it. And he has adapted when conditions have changed. You don’t see Boeckman running plays that were designed for Troy Smith. Programs sometimes collapse over time because their rigid coaches demand purity over practicality and refuse to change when confronted with new ideas. Jim Tressel, in contrast, seems to adapt on a yearly basis.

Bruce Lee would be proud. Perhaps its time for Tressel to start wearing a black belt over his sweater vest. And now that he’s dispatched all the no-name extras, he only has to subdue 3 legitimate opponents before he gets the chance to fight the evil Han in New Orleans.

Enter the dragon indeed.

My thoughts on the Penn State game:

• The Opponent – B-. For the Big 10 to return to respectability, Penn State will have to re-establish itself as an elite program. Otherwise, we’re going to keep hearing about how the winner of the SEC should really be considered the de facto national champion. As it stands now, Joe Paterno probably can’t reverse the slide. And a graceful exit for the octagenarian now appears to be unlikely. Happy Valley is still a tough place to play, and the lion’s roar is still pretty obnoxious. But the Big 10 needs more than that and a few thousand kids dressed in white. It needs a solid Penn State program that can legitimately challenge for the national championship every few years. Combined with Ohio State and Michigan, a revitalized Penn State would enhance Big 10 competition so that the conference would once again be considered “meaningful” by the rest of the country.
• The Defense – B. Not the defense’s best effort this year, but not too shabby either. The defense gave up more yards to Penn State than to any other offense so far this season, but still only allowed 10 points. Much of the yardage resulted from Penn State’s ground game, made possible by the Nittany Lion offensive line. It’s the first time this year that I’ve seen the Buckeye run defense get handled on a few plays. Not many, but enough to show a few, exploitable flaws to the remaining Big 10 opponents. Laurinaitis and crew tightened when they had to, though, and actually put the game out of reach when Malcolm Jenkins returned an “ill-advised” Morelli pass for a touchdown.
• The Offense – A. I haven’t seen so many long drives since Tiger Woods played in the last US Open. The offense carved up a pretty good Penn State defense all night long with Boeckman and the offensive line both playing their best games of the year. Beanie Wells once again ran well and the receiving corps of Robiskie, Hartline and Small pressured Penn State’s outmanned secondary. Maurice Wells deserves special mention this week as I thought he showed better vision and patience than he has all season. We’re going to need him to step up a little over the next three games to give Beanie a break from time to time.
• The Special Teams – C. I know a C is pretty harsh, especially on a night when Pretorius was perfect. But I can’t in good conscience give a higher grade to any special team that allows a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It doesn’t matter when in the game the return occurred. As I learned a long time ago, any TD return indicates a bigger problem that somehow hasn’t manifested itself until now. The Buckeyes have lots of work to do on this aspect of the kicking game this week.
• My Favorite Play. I’ve criticized his heavy feet before, but this week my favorite play involves Alex Boone. On a very well-executed screen to Hartline in the 2nd quarter, Boone got out front and showed tremendous agility in getting downfield and making a block on a Penn State defensive back. Hartline cut off of Boone’s block and went in for a score. It’s usually really hard for a 300+ pounder to get a bead on one of those little guys. Boone made it look easy this time.
• Game Ball. The Offensive Line.

Popularity: 36% [?]

In full disclosure, I’ve never been a Steve Spurrier fan. His on-field demeanor, treatment of players and post-game cockiness always rubbed me the wrong way. Say what you want about the Big 10, but the fraternity and mutual respect among Big-10 coaches has always been something that players and fans could be proud of. Not so with a conference that includes Spurrier. Like many college football fans who’ve witnessed Spurrier’s antics, I wasn’t exactly disappointed that he failed so miserably with the Redskins.

So with that disclosure on the table, I don’t think I’m reading too much into Spurrier’s recent comments regarding Ohio State’s #1 ranking. Following a loss to unranked Vanderbilt, Spurrier quipped,

…I’m not shocked at losing to Vandy. They’re a good football team….They lost to Alabama, Auburn and Georgia…If they played three little ol’ guys, somewhere along the line they’d be 6-0, did you know that? They’d be up there where Ohio State is, number 1 in the BCS.

In other words, according to Spurrier, Ohio State is only ranked #1 because they played a weak schedule.

I’m reminded of a story I once heard about golfer Greg Norman. As legend has it, he punched another golfer who accused him of choking in a big tournament. When asked by a reporter if the other golfer had a point, Norman responded that in fact the other golfer was correct. But Norman just didn’t think it was the other golfer’s place to say so.

Same with Spurrier. We know the Buckeyes have played a weak schedule so far. But do we need Spurrier to make derisive comments about it? Besides, the team can’t control their strength of schedule. All they can do is beat all the teams they’re supposed to beat – something Spurrier evidently can’t do.

I’m sure I’m more sensitive to this issue than I’d normally be because of the National Championship loss to Florida last year. Jeff Snook recently made the case that Ohio State is still paying for the Florida debacle. He’s probably right. So the only way the Buckeyes can finally earn a little respect is to get back to National Championship game and play up to their ability against a top SEC opponent.

With four tough games remaining on the schedule, I can’t guarantee that Ohio State will get a shot at redemption. But with losses to LSU and Vanderbilt (so far), I’m pretty certain that the only way Spurrier will get into the National Championship game this year is with a ticket.

My thoughts on the Michigan State game:

• The Opponent – C+. I like Mark Dantonio, and I know he’ll transform the Spartans into a Big 10 contender in the next few years. For now, though, they’re a mediocre team. Michigan State’s offense, led by Dayton’s Javon Ringer and Cleveland’s Brian Hoyer, could only manage 185 in total offense. And with the exception of a few 3rd quarter gifts, the defense, led by Alliance’s Kendell Davis-Clark and Cincinnati’s Greg Jones, couldn’t find a way to contain Ohio State on the ground or in the air. Anyone keeping stats on how many Ohio guys are stars on other Big 10 teams?
• The Defense – A. Another week, another sterling performance. After facing spreads and pseudo-spreads for the first seven games this seasons, the Buckeyes finally got to see a “traditional” attack. And the result was the same. Take away the points given up by the OSU offense, and this was a dominant effort. Things are going to get progressively tougher over the next few weeks, but it looks like the defense will always be able to keep the Buckeyes in the game.
• The Offense – C+. I’m not quite sure how to grade the offense this week. For most of the game they were productive and competent. But in the 3rd quarter they looked bored and clumsy. First Boeckman gave up an interception and fumble, both of which led to MSU scores. Then they were lucky to recover a subsequent fumble that could’ve easily gone the other way. It’s almost as if they started day dreaming on the way out of the locker room to start the second half. Don’t laugh - it happens. Without the mishaps, I probably would’ve gone with an A-. In any case, I still like Boeckman’s progress. He’s quietly becoming the best quarterback the rest of the country’s never heard of. That’s not the case with Beanie Wells. With a career-high 221 rushing yards, Wells is now officially a star on the national scene. If he hadn’t been hobbled by a bad ankle for the past several weeks, we might have even started to hear a little Heisman talk.
• The Special Teams – B. With the exceptions of a few kick returns and a blocked field goal, the special teams looked pretty solid again this week. If Pretorius can keep the ball up, he’ll be a major asset in the remaining four games. I’d like to see the Buckeyes get Ray Small more engaged somehow on special teams. He hasn’t had the opportunity to show it yet, but I think he has the ability to turbo charge the return game.
• My Favorite Play. This week my favorite play belongs to the defense. With Michigan State driving in the 4th quarter on the OSU 20 yard line, the Buckeyes needed a big stop on a 3rd and 14. Spartan receiver Terry Love caught the ball in the middle of the field and looked like he might pick up the first down. Then Cameron Heyward stepped back and leveled Love with a bone-rattling hit. The play forced a field goal and helped Ohio State avoid a tight finish.
• Game Ball. Beanie Wells.

Popularity: 41% [?]

Seven weeks into the 2007 season, it’s kind of pointless to talk about big upsets. In fact, as a result of what we’ve seen so far, we might need a new way to define “upset.” There’s no question that Appalachian State – Michigan will always be seen as the quintessential upset. But this weekend, #1 LSU went down to Kentucky and #2 Cal lost to Oregon State. While both ranked teams were heavily favored, their opponents were legitimate Division 1A teams with solid programs. Should either victory really be called a big upset? Why shouldn’t underdogs have a shot at beating teams in the same conference?

Ever since the NCAA standardized and reduced the number of scholarships around the country, sports pundits have been fond of talking about “parity.” It’s taken a few decades to get there, but we’re pretty close to finally leveling the playing field. The iconic programs (Ohio State, USC, and yes, even Michigan) continue to win year after year– but not because of structural advantages. Instead, they win because they hire good coaches and make compelling sales pitches to high school stars.

There’s another, less well-known reason that accounts for the recent acceleration of parity: the ability of underclassmen to leave early. Because of better recruiting practices, the stars recruited by the brand-name programs often live up to their hype. And they take advantage of opportunities to play early that weren’t available 20 or 30 years ago. By their junior years, a handful of players are seasoned college veterans ready to test the waters at the next level. These are the players who, in the past, would have extended a program’s dominance. Now they play on Sundays. Their replacements are often young, inexperienced players in key positions. And this makes it possible for a so-called lesser program to get close enough in talent to the top-ranked teams. Add a little emotion and dash of luck, and wham! You have a Stanford beating USC. Not always, but enough to make things really interesting. And fun to watch.

Anyone not enjoying the 2007 college football season? (You don’t have to answer that question, Lloyd and Pete.) I know a few folks in Columbus and South Florida who are having a ball.

My thoughts on the Kent State game:

• The Opponent – B+. I was pleasantly surprised with the performance of the Golden Flashes. Despite the pre-game suspicion that they might take a dive, they came to fight and clearly gave their best effort. Led by diminutive halfback Eugene Jarvis, Kent State ran the ball more effectively than any opponent this year. They didn’t embarrass themselves or the MAC. Take away a few big plays, and the game might have been a little closer. They just didn’t have the athletes to go toe to toe with the Big Ten champ for four solid rounds.
• The Defense - B-. After singing their praises all season long, we finally saw a flaw in their heretofore flawless performance. Giving up 161 rushing yards to Kent State, the defense looked a little average. The coaching staff will work hard to eliminate the physical and mental errors, especially as we’ll see good running backs for the rest of the season. Overall the defense stepped up when it had to, and the interception return by Donald Washington pretty much ended that game. Washington has quietly played very well all season long. So it’s nice to see him get a little exposure.
• The Offense – A-. We didn’t see the dominance at the line of scrimmage that we might have expected, but this was a pretty productive outing by the offense. You can’t ask for much more out of Boeckman, as he continues to make progress in almost every part of his game. He’s giving the Buckeyes a chance to be competitive as we move into the meat of the season. I’m still a little disappointed with the running game. With Beanie Wells sidelined for most of the game, we saw a significant amount of Brandon Saine. I like how he catches the ball out of the backfield, but I’m not sure we’re seeing his 10.3 speed on the field. He’s faster than he’s shown, and that’s usually an indication of indecisiveness. It’s important that he gets these reps and watches himself on film to gain more confidence. We’re going to need him down the stretch.
• The Special Teams – A+. Hartline’s record-breaking, 90-yard punt return was the signature special teams play on a very good day. After a shaky start to the season, the kicking game now looks ready for prime-time. Pretorius kicked a 49 yard field goal and Trepasso is emerging as the top Big Ten punter. All this and we haven’t even seen much of Ray Small yet. It’s nice to see the special teams peaking at the right point in the season.
• My Favorite Play. You don’t have to look very hard this week. Hartline’s punt return was about as perfect as you’ll see. And if you watch the replay carefully, you’ll see the ex-hurdler three-steppin’ all the way into the end zone. It would make my old coaches proud. So Hartline’s punt return not only made history, but it’s also my favorite play of the game. I’ll leave it to you to decide which is more important.
• Game Ball. Brian Hartline.

Popularity: 29% [?]